Race Photos From The Team’s Eyes…..
The team are back at home recovering from another special race in Patagonia. Last year we decided to capture as much of the race as possible through from our perspective. Below are links to some of the sections of the race…. enjoy!
Pre – Race Photos
Getting to the start line….
Stage 3 – Trekking
Stage 4 – Mountain Bike
Stage 5 – Trekking
Stage 6 – Paddling
Stage 7 – Trek
Journey to Punta Arenas – 36hrs on a Chillian Naval Vessel
Video Clips:
The teams first swim location…Click Here to view
Nicola and Bruce lead the way on the second swim… Click Here to view
Helly Hansen Prunesco Prepare For WPER 2010…..
Team Helly Hansen Prunesco are heading off to their first big race of 2010. The same team of Nicola MacLeod, Mark Humphrey, Andy Wilson and Bruce Duncan are going back to Patagonia to take on the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race.
This is a huge race, it is Chile’s bi centenary year, and as such Stjepan Pavicic, the racxe director, has planned a monster of a race, set to cross almost the whole of Tierra Del Fuego, and the Beagle Channel. (see a wee interview here with him Gearjunkie)
As defending champions and also current World Champions, there will be a fair amount of pressure on the team, but they are hoping to have a steady race, they know the conditions that will face them, and are hoping that it will be tough with poor weather, which will suit the British racers fine. ‘We are used to training in rubbish weather, we know how to cope with it, and to just get our heads down an get on with it’ said Mark Humphrey, out training in the snow, ice and now mud of the UK winter.
The team have been training hard over the last few months, running and biking in some pretty harsh conditions, as well as some good tough gym sessions, and with knowing more than 2 weeks in advance unlike last year, they should be more prepared.
Bruce has had an indoor kayak trainer set up in his barn, as the lakes have all been frozen. Mark has been out pushing his wee lad around as resistance training, Nicola has been altitude training, (well, skiing in the Alps at least), and Andy has been eating lots to ensure he has enough on his body to keep warm this time.
There are some good teams heading out this year, the full list and number of teams has not been released, but there are known to be teams from Finland, Switzerland, USA, Canada and 2 teams from the UK. Fast and Light, headed up by Simon Fisher has been onto Helly Hansen Prunesco for advice and tips on how to race, and they are keen to help each other out to ensure both teams finish, and finish well.
With only 12 days to go till the race starts, the team are rushing around trying to get all the kit from all our sponsors, and to make sure it all fits into our bags! We have had some great help from sponsors over the past year, and hope this year to be able to get them even more coverage.
I will try and post another update before we head off to Chile, but remember to keep tabs on us during the race from the race website
www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com
Team Helly Hansen Prunesco
www.teamhellyhansenuk.com
Also follow us on Twitter: @bikingbruce, @mark_humphrey, @teamhellyhansen
Photos From The 2009 Event….
First insight into the WPER 2010 course…
Back from a two-week scouting expedition to the wilds of Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Race Director Stjepan Pavicic, Ann Meidinger, and other members of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race team have completed the planning and layout for much of the 2010 course. This interview with Pavicic is a trip report and a sneak peek on some details of the upcoming race, which kicks off on February 9. Click Here for report
Helly Hansen Series – Cannock Chase…
The first Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge in Cannock took place in hot sunshine this weekend. With over 148 teams of three completing the Run-> Bike -> Run -> Paddle ->Run -> Bike -> Challenges format event proved to be popular as ever.
Each stage distances were a bit vague as the race started. As usual the first run was more a sprint lasting 30mins ending back at the transition with many other teams leaving on their bikes. Over the tannoy system we could hear the commentator saying “the fastest teams will be back within 1:30mins…” with that in mind we headed out on some amazing fire and single track trails…. 1:15 mins later we ended at the run transition to the kayaks. I think the 1:30 was a bit over optimistic!. Here we were told it’s only 2.5km run to the water… Up, down, down up… across grassy fields finally ending up at the waters edge. Here we all pilled into a 3 person kayak to paddle firstly up stream 500m before turning round and heading back down stream, much easier. Out of the boats it was a run back to the bike drop off, by now we were passing many other teams heading to the kayak. Back on the bikes we headed off after a team we could see in front. The bike leg back was fairly short and soon caught the all male team in front. It was then a sprint to the finish with both teams head to head on the Plank walk, through the cargo net and finally over the slippery wall. We came 4th overall, just missing out on third and 1st in the mixed category.
We would like to thank Paul from TrailPlus for putting on another excellent event, and we are all looking forward to the other HH Challenge series event.
Helly Hansen UK ready to race in Sweden….
Team helly Hansen are in the final preparations for the Adventure Race Explore Sweden. Team Member Nicola Macleod is joined by Bruce Duncan, who raced in Patagonia, Nick Gracie and John Laughlin two experienced UK racers. Read More
Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge Series 2009-10
Helly Hansen and Trail Plus have announced the dates and locations for the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge series. For more information please follow these links Sleepmonsters&Trailplus
2009 dates and venues are:
- Sunday 20 September: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
- Sunday 18 October: Longmoor Camp, Hampshire
- Sunday 6 December: Hawley, Nr Camberley, Surrey
2010 dates and venues are
- Sunday 31 January (2010): Pirbright, Surrey
- Sunday 21 March (2010): Grisedale forest, Lake District
CLIC Sargent is the Official Charity for the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge Series. To help CLICK Sargent please request a funraising pack when you sign up to the challenge.
CLIC Sargent Caring for Children with Cancer
Wenger Patagonian Race Win Rolls On….
3 months after the win in Patagonia articles and photos are still poping up in magazines. This time if you happen to be in Italy then there is a 5 page spread in the Italian Men’s Health magazine. A bit closer to home there is a nice 4 page spread written by Bruce Duncan in the UK’s orienteering magazine CompassSport, Vol30 Issue 2 April. If you are into orienteering then this magazine is for you with race write-ups, product reviews, fixtures etc… www.compassSport.co.uk
Mark Posts Fastest Time For 60km MTB Ride….
I decided to head out to ride the Trail Ride organised by Trailbreak these offroad challenges are an excellent way to get some quality miles in off road and in the South East. The ride started from Duncton at the foot of the South Downs. There are 3 ride lengths 40, 60 and 100km. With the three distances in mind I opted for the 60km ride so I could spend the afternoon with my new born son. The trails were dry and fast and the sun beat down making the ride hot and extremly enjoyable. After the results had been posted I had set the fastest time, riding 63km in 3hrs 26mins averaging 18.6km/hr and an overall ascent of 1576m . To see the route and my ride stats click on this link http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/8178242
